Abstract: Methods are provided for holding an engine steady during a drive cycle to complete one or more diagnostic routines. The engine may be held steady while an operator torque demand varies if a sufficient number of diagnostic routines need to be completed and are enabled for completion. By holding the engine steady, an accuracy and completion of the diagnostic routines is improved.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 4, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Douglas Raymond Martin, Matthew D. Smith, Richard Paul Taylor
Abstract: A transmission includes gearsets each including rotating members, a support held against rotation, brake servos located in the support, brakes each actuated by one of the brake servos for producing a connection between the support and a respective gearset member, a housing, clutch servos located in the housing, and clutches each actuated by one of the clutch servos for producing a drive connection between the housing and a respective gearset member.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 23, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Gregory D. Goleski, Steven G. Thomas, Jeffrey E. Maurer
Abstract: An exhaust system, comprising a LP-EGR system that couples an exhaust system to an intake system and an exhaust pipe within the exhaust system with a turn greater 90 degrees and less than 270 degrees between front and rear tires and upstream of a LP-EGR exhaust inlet; and a muffler positioned in the exhaust system downstream of the LP-EGR exhaust inlet and forward of the front tires. By shortening the LP-EGR path, back pressure to sustain EGR flow can be maintained without the use of a back pressure valve.
Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising at least one olefin multi-block interpolymer; at least one functionalized olefin-based polymer; and optionally at least one thermoplastic polyurethane. The invention also provides for articles prepared from the inventive compositions and for methods for making the same.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2015
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Patricia Ansems, Ashish Batra, Laura B. Weaver, Lawrence J. Effler, H. Craig Silvis, Hamed Lakrout, Laura K. Mergenhagen
Abstract: Embodiments for a supercharged engine are presented. In one example, a supercharged engine includes a cylinder head having at least two cylinders, each cylinder having at least one outlet opening for discharging exhaust gases and each outlet opening being adjoined by an exhaust line, with exhaust lines of at least two cylinders merging to form an overall exhaust line within the cylinder head so as to form an integrated exhaust manifold, at least two turbines arranged in series, the two turbines being of different size and arranged downstream of the exhaust manifold in the overall exhaust line, a distributor housing in which the overall exhaust line downstream of the manifold enters into and leads through to a small turbine of the two turbines, and a first turbine housing which accommodates the small turbine including at least one coolant jacket in order to form a liquid cooling arrangement.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 2, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Kai Sebastian Kuhlbach, Norbert Andreas Schorn, Carsten Weber
Abstract: A method of controlling a start-stop vehicle transmission pump, includes: assessing how long an engine has been turned off; and when the engine has been turned off for longer than a predetermined threshold and the vehicle is on, priming the transmission pump.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 17, 2013
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Daniel T. Lin, Eric F. Banners, Stephen M. Cicala, Tim J. Kropf, Bradley D. Riedle
Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for recharging a storage catalyst of an internal combustion engine. A method is described, comprising: while operating an engine in a substoichiometric operating mode when the engine is under medium load and responsive to an LNT condition, assisting the engine with an electric machine connected to an engine crankshaft. The electric machine provides an auxiliary drive to assist the engine in maintaining the substantially steady state substoichiometric operating mode which may be used to reduce NOx or SOx build up in a storage catalytic convertor or to assay the condition of a storage catalytic convertor.
Abstract: A phase control apparatus in a variable cam timing (VCT) system of an engine is described herein. The phase control apparatus includes a locking pin coupled to a vane, the locking pin extending into a locking pin recess in a cover plate in a locked configuration, the locking pin and locking pin recess having a backlash and a housing at least partially enclosing the vane and spaced away from the vane forming a gap in the locked configuration.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 12, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 5, 2015
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Mohammad Ali Moetakef, Jamie Charles Hanshaw, Wesley Kridner, Georg Festag, Steve Poe
Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a cup holder includes a support, an adjustable arm connected to the support, and a base connected to the support and spaced apart from the adjustable arm, the base being pivotal about the support in a first direction and being translatable to the adjustable arm in a second direction different from the first direction. The support may include a first member and a second member separable from the first member, the first member being connected to the adjustable arm and the second member being connected to the base.
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a throttle based on an intake oxygen sensor output. In one example, a method may include adjusting a position of a throttle based on a dilution threshold and a total aircharge dilution level, the total dilution aircharge level based on an output of an intake oxygen sensor. Additionally, spark timing may be adjusted based on the total aircharge dilution level.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 25, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, James Alfred Hilditch, Jason Williams
Abstract: A sealing system, comprises a male block including an annular flange, a female block including an annular recess configured to accommodate the annular flange, a circular seal having a diameter configured to fit within a hose aperture, and an O-ring configured to fit between the annular flange and a wall of the annular recess when the blocks are in a mated position.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 30, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Gregory C. Trombley, Manfred Koberstein, Steven L. Lambert
Abstract: A driving pattern based plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) energy consumption preplanning process enables a PHEV trip-oriented energy management control (TEMC) to utilize scalable levels of available trip foreknowledge in order to optimize the onboard energy (fuel and electricity) usage. The preplanning process generates an optimal battery state-of-charge (SOC) depletion profile for a given trip to be traveled by a PHEV. The preplanning process may generate the battery SOC profile using a driving pattern based dynamic programming (DP) algorithm. The TEMC controls the onboard energy usage in accordance with the battery SOC profile, which is optimized for the trip. The preplanning process makes use of spatial domain normalized drive power demand (SNDP) (or S-NDP) distributions in which each set of distributions is indicative of a respective driving pattern. The trip foreknowledge is used to select the driving pattern best representative of the driving process for the trip.
Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for engine systems including a first multiple tap aspirator with a motive inlet coupled to an intake upstream of an air induction system throttle and a mixed flow outlet coupled to an intake manifold, and a second multiple tap aspirator with a motive inlet coupled to the intake upstream of a main throttle and a mixed flow outlet coupled to the intake downstream of the air induction system throttle. During non-boost conditions, intake air may be selectably diverted around a compressor and through the first and/or second aspirator based on desired vacuum generation. During boost conditions, the first and second aspirators may function as compressor bypass valves, and intake air may be selectably directed from downstream of the compressor to upstream of the compressor via the first and/or second aspirator based on a desired compressor bypass flow.
Abstract: The present invention discloses the production of panels by a discontinuous process. The panels are produced by injecting a polyisocyanurate foam forming composition into the mold cavity at reduced pressure. The combination of certain polyisocyanurate foam forming formulation and the reduced pressure in the mold cavity allows production of and resulting sandwich panels in a discontinuous process where the produced panels are characterized by improved fire resistance.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 22, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicant:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Luigi Bertucelli, Giuseppe Fantera, Paolo Golini
Abstract: An exemplary knee airbag assembly may include an airbag cushion that has a first end and a second end. The airbag cushion may be inflatable from a stowed position to a deployed position in which it has a length and a thickness. The exemplary knee airbag assembly may also include an enlarged portion at at least one of the ends of the airbag cushion when the knee airbag assembly is in at least the deployed state. The enlarged portion increases the thickness of the airbag cushion along at least a portion of the length of the airbag cushion at the at least one of the ends of the airbag cushion such that the knee airbag assembly may be non-symmetrical.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 28, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicant:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
Edward J. Abramoski, Matthew B. Makowski, Jovica J. Jakovski, Djamal E. Midoun
Abstract: A multilayer nonwoven structure is described where the nonwoven structure comprises at least two spun bond layers and at least one easily meltable layer. The easily meltable layer is located between the at least two spunbond layers. The easily meltable layer is comprised of a polymer having a melting point at least 20° C. less than the melting point of the polymer which comprises the surface of the fibers which comprise the spun bond layer, or is made from a polymer which is readily absorbs some form of radiation. Under bonding conditions, the fibers which make up the easily meltable layer can be melted to form a film, thereby improving bather properties of the nonwoven structure.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 25, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicant:
DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Inventors:
Gert Claasen, Jill M. Martin, Ronald Wevers
Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to request vehicle sensor data upon crash detection. Further, the processor is configured to assemble the data into a graphic representation of a vehicle, including graphic representations of conditions represented by sensor data. The processor is also configured to send the graphic representation to an emergency operator in communication with a vehicle computing system.
Abstract: An assembly includes an engine output concentric with an axis, an input, a starting gear, a first drive plate secured to the engine output, including a rim supporting the starting gear, and arms extending radially outward from the axis, and a second drive plate rotatably secured to the input, and secured to the first drive plate at a location spaced radially outward from the axis.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 24, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicant:
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Inventors:
John E. Brevick, Steven A. Frait, Keith A. Devereaux
Abstract: An alloy composite material comprising an aluminum alloy layer and a thermal spray alloy layer of 20 to 40% Mn and 47 to 76% Fe by weight in overlaying contact with the aluminum alloy layer. An alloy composite material comprising an aluminum alloy layer or base layer and a thermal spray alloy layer of 20 to 40% Mn and 47 to 76% Fe by weight in overlaying contact with the aluminum alloy layer or base layer. The aluminum alloy layer or base layer and the thermal spray alloy layer have a mechanical compatibility to each other of 20-60 MPa as determined using tests specified by ASTM-C633 test. A process of thermal spraying comprising providing a base layer and a feed stock alloy of 20 to 40% Mn and 47 to 76% Fe and thermally spraying the feed stock alloy onto the base layer to form an alloy composite material.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 31, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicants:
The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
James Maurice Boileau, Timothy J. Potter, Paul George Sanders, Matthew John Zaluzec, Pravansu Sekhar Mohanty, Vikram Varadarrajan
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving air intake system hydrocarbon trap purging during engine-off time in a hybrid electric vehicle. One method includes opening the throttle during vehicle motion under battery operation and allowing airflow through the trap to purge its contents into the fuel canister via the canister purge valve. Upon transition into the engine-on mode, fuel vapors are released from the canister into the engine intake.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 31, 2013
Publication date:
April 30, 2015
Applicant:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Timothy Watkins